WALTER SMITH watched David Unsworth convert a 30-yard freekick last night - then braced himself for another broadside from the defender today.

Unsworth will seek talks with the Everton manager after being omitted entirely from Saturday's senior squad.

The player signed a new three-year deal only days ago and turned up at the v Blues' Bellefield training ground yesterday for talks. However, Unsworth was told that the manager was in Scotland - and he was playing in the reserve team match at Newcastle last night.

Unsworth was devastated not to make even the substitutes' bench last Saturday for the first time since he was a teenager.

He left the ground early after learning he had been axed.

Unsworth's last appearance was the Goodison derby, when he was substituted at half time and dropped to the bench for the following week's game at Blackburn.

Unsworth was joined in the reserve team by striker Danny Cadamarteri who was watched by Stoke director of football John Rudge.

The second Division club is considering an approach for the forward who has been told he can leave Goodison.

With a number of players away on international duty and several others receiving treatment there was a skeleton squad training at Bellefield today.

The Blues are still awaiting the results of a scan on Paul Gascoigne's injured knee but the player is moving freely and harbours outside hopes of being fit for the trip to Ipswich in a fortnight.